Jobs and Unemployment

09/25/2014

State Senator Jennifer Shilling who represents La Crosse welcomed delegates by exclaiming that she was, “proud to stand with labor to continue to keep my finger on the pulse of working families in Wisconsin. We are on the horizon for change in this state and we need to make sure our voices are heard to stop the assault on working families.”

Senator Shilling said that Gov. Walker’s 250,000 jobs promise is broken. “We continue to have lackluster job numbers in our state,” said Senator Shilling. “We’re last in the Midwest for job creation. We believe in the promise of a better tomorrow and that promise has been broken by Governor Walker. It is time for a change; it is time for new opportunities for the state of Wisconsin.”

Shilling continued: “Cranes in the sky, means jobs on the ground,” and called for investments in infrastructure and construction which lead to good-paying jobs for working families that grow our economy.”

09/19/2014

Everyone remembers Scott Walker's signature pledge to create 250,000 jobs for Wisconsin. In fact, he asked us to hold him accountable at the end of his four year term. Well, we are.

Taking into account the latest jobs report from the Department of Workforce Development, Wisconsin has added only 8,800 jobs this year and only 102,195 jobs since Scott Walker took office. This paltry number is just 40% of Scott Walker's pledge.

According to the Center on Wisconsin Strategy at the University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin still needs to create roughly 130,000 jobs to get back to where we were before the recession and that doesn't even take into account the 108,500 additional jobs Wisconsin needs to accommodate population growth since 2007. Simply put, unemployment is far too high and the economy is just not recovering fast enough under Scott Walker's administration.

Wisconsin is ready for new leadership in Madison. Wisconsin is ready to create good jobs and economic opportunity for workers. Wisconsin is ready for Mary Burke.

02/05/2013

The
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO joins a growing coalition of faith, labor, health care advocates, the Wisconsin Hospital Association and elected leaders in support of expanding BadgerCare
with federal funds made available through the Affordable Care Act.

Gov. Walker has not yet to make a decision on accepting the funding to expand Medicaid coverage. His decision will affect over 146,000 Wisconsinites.

At a press conference Tuesday
at the Capitol, Senator Jon Erpenbach
and Representative Jon Richards joined
with uninsured Wisconsinites from across the state to introduce the ‘Strengthen BadgerCare Act.’ This act would expand BadgerCare coverage to
better meet the needs of 146,000 Wisconsinites who lack affordable health care
and are denied access to BadgerCare.

“We hope that our elected leaders put the health of
Wisconsin residents first and pass the Strengthen BadgerCare Act,” said Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin
State AFL-CIO. “Many of the people
who fall through the cracks of BadgerCare are unemployed or low-wage workers
who are still struggling in this economy through no fault of their own. When people can go to the doctor and get their
families proper care when they fall ill, we all benefit as a society both
economically and morally.”

“Filling in the holes of BadgerCare makes sense for
Wisconsin,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale,
Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO. “The Affordable Care Act provides federal
funds to cover the cost of expanding the program and it is estimated that 10,000
new health care jobs will be generated by the influx of this funding. More people with health care and more jobs is
a win-win for Wisconsin.”

Under the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid would be expanded to include people with household incomes below 138% of the federal poverty threshold - $15,414 for an individual this year - who are not eligible for coverage now.

In Wisconsin, this group mainly consists of adults who don't have children under 19.

The federal government would pay the full cost of expanding the Medicaid program through 2016, gradually declining to 90% in 2020 and thereafter.

12/11/2012

Hundreds of working people joined together with religious leaders and community members on Monday, December 10, in Appleton, Janesville, Kenosha, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee, Wausau and Wisconsin Rapids to urge Congress to end tax cuts for the rich and protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security in the ongoing fiscal cliff budget showdown.

At candlelight vigils, carnation vigils, and marches across the state Wisconsinites urged elected representatives to hold the line in the lame duck session and fully preserve vital programs like Social Security and Medicare that millions of Americans depend on.

“In one of the most prosperous countries in the world, everyone should be able to retire with health and dignity,” said Sue Conard, a retired nurse from La Crosse. “Working families across the country have made it clear that we need to protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security benefits. Millions of working people, jobless people and retirees shouldn’t have to sacrifice their health care and retirement security so that the richest 2% can continue getting more tax breaks. It’s time for our elected leaders to focus on creating an economy that invests in jobs, healthcare and education for all.”

At a carnation vigil in Milwaukee, Rev. Willie Brisco, President of MICAH, made clear this is a bi-partisan issue:

“all parties need to come together to solve our countries problems and do what is good for the people. We have people deciding if they can eat or if they can go to the doctor. No more cuts, make the rich pay their fair share and let’s come together as one nation, one people.”

Ed Jude, a Vietnam veteran from Milwaukee, explained, “my daughter suffers from sickle cell anemia and is in the hospital every few months for a blood transfer. Should she be without BadgerCare? No. What would happen to her children? I did not serve my country so that people with the least go without so that the people with the most can line their pockets. I am calling on Sen. Kohl to do the right thing, pledge not to support any deal with cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid."

Since the election, working people in Wisconsin have been mobilizing around the lame duck session to raise our voices as one and encourage our elected leaders to put partisan politics aside and the American people first. The House GOP plan is the same agenda that voters rejected last November. It is time for Congress to listen to the will of the voters and raise taxes on the top 2% as well as protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

11/12/2012

On Veterans Day, we honor the brave men and women who have fought overseas to protect our families and our freedoms. We also believe that honoring our armed services should be a year-round effort. Unemployment among veterans exceeds our national average. We need to do better to ensure that our returning soldiers can integrate back into the community, and secure lucrative and stable employment.

The labor movement is proud to sponsor the Helmets-to-Hardhats program which provides opportunities to military veterans to start a career in the building and construction trades. These careers allow veterans to build a future for themselves and their families when they return home.

As we recognize our service men and women on this Veterans Day, let us recommit ourselves to the goal of welcoming those who serve home with good jobs and economic security. We thank our veterans for their service and we pray for the health and safe return of our men and women currently fighting to defend our nation.

10/29/2012

Union workers and community members hit the streets throughout Wisconsin this weekend in order to get out the vote for working family candidates on November 6. In Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Green Bay, Horicon, Janesville, Kenosha, La Crosse, Madison, Menasha, Milwaukee, Oshkosh, Racine, Superior, Wausau and Wisconsin Rapids working people took to the streets to educate, inform and energize voters.

“If we do the work now, if we get people out to vote, we win,” said Candice Owley, President of the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, to a group of union nurses and health care workers who had gathered at the Milwaukee Area Labor Temple to partner-up and grab a labor walk packet.

“We are here for one reason, to win this election,” stated Stephanie Bloomindale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO. “That is why we are here on a Saturday morning because Republicans need Wisconsin to win and we aren’t going to let that happen. We are facing a tsunami of outside spending, but we are still here, we are still strong and we will use our people power -- worker to worker, one door, one phone call at a time -- to get out the vote for working families.”

With just over a week until Election Day on November 6, help us get out the vote for Barack Obama and Tammy Baldwin by stopping in to one of our statewide volunteer locations! All are welcome. We can provide a quick training and answer any questions you might have. Volunteering is fun, rewarding and proven to make a difference.

10/08/2012

As the Labor 2012 campaign heats up heading into the final weeks before Election Day on November 6, union members and community volunteers are working around the clock to elect pro-worker candidates.

Across the state, volunteers are picking up walk packets, dialing phones and grabbing flyers for the worksite in order to educate friends, family, co-workers and neighbors on working family candidates like President Barack Obama, U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, who is running for U.S. Senate, and a host of other candidates who will fight for strong, middle class communities.

This week’s all-star volunteer is Mary Sorenson, of Eau Claire, who is a member of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 2398. Mary is a retired computer specialist who is making a difference in her community and country with her volunteer efforts.

“I believe that voting and volunteering with the Labor 2012 program encompasses a responsibility I feel to help others in our community and benefit those that are hard-working, middle class or struggling,” said Mary, on why she spends time volunteering.

If you want to join Mary, scroll below to find a volunteer location near you!

UFCW Local 1473 has been
bargaining with Metcalfe Markets since March 2012. Despite many open
economic and non-economic issues, Metcalfe illegally implemented what they
called their final offer, which included a $.04 cent increase, and more
than a 500% increase in the employees’ healthcare premiums.

Additionally, employees voted overwhelmingly in an NLRB election for UFCW
representation. Despite the lopsided result, Tim Metcalfe challenged the
election outcome, which the NLRB quickly dismissed. Metcalfe then
appealed this decision to Washington
DC, where certification of the
election results was confirmed again today.

UFCW is organizing this action, asking Union members to attend wearing their
Union shirts as a show of support to our Union brothers and sisters. At
5:00 pm, we will walk to the Service Meat area, tour the store and upon
exit notify managers that we support the Meat employee’s efforts to gain a fair
and equitable contract.

A UFCW Representative will be there to coordinate the Solidarity Walk
Through. Please drop
us a note to indicate you will attend to sspearo@ufcw1473.org
or by phone (414) 315-0986.

09/18/2012

In the month of April, 2012,
the Wisconsin Worker Compensation Advisory Council (WCAC) successfully amended
the Worker Compensation law of Wisconsin.
The WCAC is made up of five Labor and five Management representatives who study
and advance worker compensation law reforms by recommending positive changes to
the Wisconsin Legislature and Governor.

The following are the major
changes to the worker compensation system:

1) A modest increase in the
permanent partial disability rate (PPD) for new injuries, increasing from
current rates of $302.00 to $312.00/week, for injuries occurring before
1/01/2013, and to $322.00/week for injuries in 2013 (cash benefits are free of
all taxes)

2) An agreement to modestly
limit the range of situations in which an injured worker suffering permanent
disfigurement may receive compensation for the effect of the disfigurement on
their future earning potential. Workers will need to show an actual wage loss
due to disfigurement in the work setting.

3) An agreement to allow an
injured worker engaged in a program of vocational retraining following a work
injury to work on a limited part-time basis(up to 24 hours) while also in
school, without reduction of WC retraining benefits (meaning workers can work
limited part-time while retraining and not suffer benefit reductions).

4) A significant, major,
positive change to allow injured workers, who are certified by the Department
of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), to have the employer and their insurance
carrier pay the reasonable costs of tuition, books, and fees required during a
program of approved vocational training. This provision also speeds the return
to work and reduces significantly the financial burden for workers. Tuition
costs can be substantial, since training can last up to 80 weeks. Workers can
attend public or private colleges or programs.

5) An agreement to reign in
some medical costs by narrowing the range of what constitutes reasonable
medical providers fees for certain medical services to injured workers, while
still continuing to allow injured workers their choice of medical provider who
may treat them for their work injury.

6) An agreement to provide an
audit of the medical expense databases used in determining what are the correct
rates for medical providers, by Labor, management, and health care providers in
a special committee.

7) Finally, WCAC created a
special committee to study ways to permanently fund the cost of providing
regular and periodic increases in the weekly indemnity (money) benefits paid to
those who are the most seriously injured -- those injured workers found to be
permanently and totally disabled by their work injury (PTD benefits). This
reform is a high priority item for Labor.

In sum, the changes
represent an advancement of worker compensation rights without undermining the
rights of injured workers. More work needs to be done and is proceeding in the
meetings of the Council and the study committees recently created. Workers who
have ideas for positive change can contact Council members at the DWD website
under Worker Compensation Division.

08/30/2012

No matter what you do, work binds us together and connects us all. We depend on one another’s work. It’s how we build, create, teach, re-wire, heal and grow what’s important.

To recognize that, we’re launching an initiative in partnership with the national AFL-CIO that will make it possible for everyone to go that extra mile to let someone in your life know how much they appreciated.

Every day is an opportunity to recognize the hard work of others. Whether it is your bus driver, newspaper delivery person, the police person who keeps you safe, or the person who cuts your hair, we're lucky enough to
come into contact with incredible workers every day.

On behalf of everyone at the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, and the hundreds of thousands of workers we’re proud to represent: thanks for the work you do. It means the world to us.

I bet you can think of plenty of workers in your life who deserve thanks—the teachers who inspire your children, the firefighters who keep us safe, the nurses who heal our wounds, or the electricians who keep the lights on. It might be workers you sometimes forget about—the waitresses who served your dinner, the accountants who worried about your taxes so you didn’t have to or the mail carriers who got your package there in time for your mom’s birthday.

We want everyone to know their work matters. Say thanks to the workers in your life today: